Because it's fucking awesome to be road legal ( eventually) on a bike that can go anywhere ( fuck curbs), never needs a battery or keys, can crawl at walking speed or cruise at 70, doesn't carry water and weighs the same as I do once geared up.

But I reckon this isn't the forum for that. Which is cool. I wouldn't pout if it was removed.

This forum is for whatever the fuck we want. We don't talk shit, we do shit

On that note.. ... I'll be squeezing some random XL500S updates in this thread then.

Scored a set of headpipes off a early XR500R. The S model ( street legal ) used dual wallpipes for sound reduction. The R pipes are waaay lighter. I don't know who chromed these things ( Honda never did), but I think it'll look good on this bike.

I pulled the engine this afternoon to reseal it. Gasket set and a few carb parts on the way. The frame will get repainted in the meantime.

New front end to come, and some modifications to do out back Probably gonna extend the swinger an inch or two. It's a pretty short wheelbase for a bike destined for 60+mph. Zero plans to change the current aesthetics of the bike, though.

Pic of the bike for anyone that hasn't seen it.

Gonna try to keep the rack, but need to clean up that rear light somehow.

Playing around on a new hillclimb I haven't got up yet. After many failed attempts I was getting tired. Bike chasing you back down the hill and all. The last attempt wasn't going well, and I was getting tired, so I just ghosted it over the top. Pin it, jump off the pegs and let her soar

These forks desperately needed fork bushings. So I ordered everything to rebuild the forks and a new seal head for the rear shock. The rear shock on these bikes are notorious for poor rebound control. Sharp edge hits ( read: every damn log you jump) wants to buck you off. I'm positive the rear shock has never been opened. It smelled absolutely rancid in there. Had everything fully cleaned up and ready to reassemble....then decided to buy a Gold Valve for the rear shock Things will be on hold while that arrives, but I think it will be worth it.

I'm sure you probably know, but there's tons of DIY stuff on XR 250 and 400 suspension on Thumpertalk. If you can stand to sift through it all, there may be a compatible swap, but I don't know of any.

I don't know about the 250, but the 400 has a pretty decent fork for enduro/trail riding, but it's not much for jumping. I found some info online about playing with the stock shims on the compression valves in the forks and it made a HUGE difference in the plushness IMO. Does the 250 shock have rebound issues, too?

Dude, you take part rear shocks more regularly than I actually set foot in the garage these days!

Quote:

Originally Posted by shinyribs

Playing around on a new hillclimb I haven't got up yet. After many failed attempts I was getting tired. Bike chasing you back down the hill and all. The last attempt wasn't going well, and I was getting tired, so I just ghosted it over the top. Pin it, jump off the pegs and let her soar

Totally worth it.

Wish I could bring the CRF over to your pad and have you take me round some of your local trails.